Theatre
Productions Offer Double Feature

The Sam Houston State University Department of Theatre and Dance
presents a spring double feature beginning April 22--Samuel
Beckett's "Endgame," directed by senior theatre major Jayson
Rivera, and Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy," directed
by senior musical theatre major Tye Blue.

"Endgame" opens at 8 p.m. April 22, with performances also at
8 p.m. April 24 and 2 p.m. April 26. "Beyond Therapy" opens
at 8 p.m. April 23, with performances also at 8 p.m. April 25
and 26.

"Endgame" deals with life in the house of Hamm (Danial Colosky),
a frustrated paraplegic who is preparing for the last day on
earth, attended by his manservant, Clov (Austin Robinson). The
last day on earth finds Hamm irritable, constantly badgering
Clov for his painkillers and news of the outside world.

In two trash bins set out of the way suffer Nagg (Grant Gonsoulin)
and Nell (Haruna Kajino), Hamm's aging parents, who must face
life separated only by inches of metal but never able to take
comfort in each other's arms. Hamm's frustration extends to
them as well, professing to put up with them because they are
his parents and for no other reason.

"Beyond Therapy" recounts the story of Prudence (Samantha Sutton),
a woman looking for true love in Bruce (Nick Viega), a man uncertain
of his way in life. Their first meeting is the result of a personal
ad that Bruce has placed in the newspaper.

As the blind date continues, it becomes apparent that the relationship
will never work out.

However, fate draws them together once more as Prudence responds
to a different ad, only to find that Bruce is the man waiting
for her once again. The "Beyond Therapy" cast also includes
Zach Arrington, Kati Torgerson, Bobby Martinez and Byron Shoemaker.

For "Endgame" Tracy Crowston is stage manager and Kristina S.
Hansen designed costumes. For "Beyond Therapy" Lee-Anna Hamilton
serves as stage manager and Kira Brasel designed costumes.
The sets for both shows were designed by sophomore theatre major
Steven Kemp, sound design for both shows is done by Chimmy Gunn,
and Crystal Lee designed lighting for both shows.

All tickets for both productions are general admission and are
priced at $8. For reservations or information, call 936.294.1339
or 936.294.1330.

The Office of International Programs will host a Coffee Hour
in the Kat Klub of the Lowman Student Center on Thursday (April
17) from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Members of the university community are invited to come by
and meet the five summer interns who arrived from France last
week. Refreshments, provided by the Office of Student
Activities, will be served.

The International Coffee Hours are held each month to offer
extra-curricular activities for SHSU international students,
and to help them to integrate into the regular university
population.

"The event allows the international students to get to know
each other, as well as any American students who stop by,
in a relaxed, fun atmosphere," said Donna Rogers of the international
programs office.

Classes will be held on the campus of the Universidad Iberoamericana,
where students will be able to use the computer services, library,
sports facilities and even the clinic.

Students have two options for lodging and meals: to stay at
a hotel in downtown Puebla or to live with a family. The
home stay has become very popular, said Koeninger, with at least
30 students expected to use it this year.

Field trips to local factories, museums and important anthropological
sites are planned.

The deadline to sign up is April 30. For more information,
contact Koeninger by e-mail
or phone at 936.294.1443, or visit the field school website.

Rebecca Bodily's study of the mating behavior of mockingbirds
will be one of the components of "Roy Bedichek's Vanishing Frontier,"
a one-hour PBS documentary which will be shown on April 21 at
9 p.m.

Bodily received her master of science degree in biology from
Sam Houston State University in May 2002. Her thesis was under
the direction of SHSU biology professor Diane Neudorf. Bodily
now teaches at Tomball College.

Some of the filming of the documentary took place on the SHSU
campus.

Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Rob Tranchin recently
discovered Bedichek's classic 1947 work, "Adventures with a
Texas Naturalist," and was inspired to rediscover the love of
nature that he felt as a young boy.

Tranchin's road trip across the modern landscape of the Southwest
leads him to discover the changes and unlikely similarities
that exist when early 20th century writings are compared to
the world of today.

As he revisits the sites that were both points of inspiration
and observation for Bedichek, he crosses paths with Bodily on
the SHSU campus, noted author John Graves who wrote "Goodbye
to a River," and the staff of a sewage treatment plant that
completes a natural recycling process by converting waste
into rich soil.

As Tranchin interacts with these modern-day naturalists, he
realizes that Bedichek's issues and concerns are as relevant
today as they were in the 1940s.

Wendell Baker, a longtime Huntsville civic and civil rights
leader, will be the first speaker in a new series presented
by Academic Support Programs of the SAM Center at Sam Houston
State University.

The series is called "GRASSROOTS: Conversations on Leadership
in a Diverse Community." The presentation is scheduled
for 5-6 p.m. April 23 in the Olson Auditorium in Academic Building
4.

Baker was recognized by the Texas Legislature in 2001 as "an
accomplished Texan whose extensive contributions to his community,
state, and nation are all the more remarkable for the considerable
barriers he overcame."

After graduating from high school in Huntsville, he attended
Samuel Huston College in Austin, traveled as a member of a musical
group to raise money for the school, and served in the U. S.
Army in World War II.

He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Texas Southern
University and taught for 12 years in the Huntsville school
district. He then worked as a chemical engineer for Goodyear
Tire and Rubber, and now operates BaCorp, Inc., an installation
and contract service company, with his son.

The legislative resolution lauds his "significant role in the
desegregation of Sam Houston State University on June 10, 1964,"
and his organization work on behalf of the Walker County Voters
League.

Also listed were his other civic activities including "involvement
in repairing city streets, certifying local police officers,
and developing a housing project and the Walker county Housing
Board."